Cold weather straining electrical use

Published 6:29 pm, Tuesday, January 7, 2014

The New York Independent System Operator asked large industrial and commercial customers to voluntarily reduce electrical usage as extremely cold temperatures pushed up demand for natural gas, the main fuel used in power plants in the state. The NYISO, which oversees the state's high-voltage electric system, said electric demand this week could break the winter peak demand record of 25,541 megawatts set in 2004.